Improvement in car-couplimgs



Nrrnn STATES "i ATENT QFFIGE.

IMPROVEMENT iN CARHCDUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 14L756, dated August12, 1873 application filed March 21, 1873.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, RICHARD B. BUCKNER, ofGilroy, Santa Clara county, State of California, have invented anImproved (lar-Goupling; and I do hereby declare the followingdescription and accompanying drawings are sufficient tov enable anyperson skilled in the art or science to which it most nearly appertainsto make and use my said invention or improvement without furtherinvention or experiment.

My invention relates to an improved selfacting coupling for railroadcars, which will also serve as an automatic uncoupler in case ofaccident to a train,by which one of the cars leaves the track.

In order to properly explain my invention so that others will understandits construction and operation, reference is had to the accompanyingdrawing forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is abottom View of my coupling attachment to the car-frame. Fig. 2 is anenlarged bottom view of the coupling. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sideelevation in section. Fig. 4 is an enlarged section of one bumper,showing the method of holding the head of the drawbar in place.

Let A A represent the frame of the bottom of a railway car. The bumpersB B are secured between the longitudinal timbers G C ot' each car,between which they have a backand-forth motion, being kept in place bysprings, either metal or India rubber. The bumper B carries the draw-barD, while the opposite bumper B receives and holds the end of thedraw-bar whenthe two bumpers come together. The bumper B has an arm, c,projecting outward from each side, which enters grooves in the oppositesides of the timbers C so as to form slides. Springs fare placed inthese grooves back of the arms of the bumper so as to press the bumperforward. A casting, E, is secured between vthe timbers C G back of thebumper, which also has an arm extending to each side. These arms enterthe slots in the timbers C back of the springs j' and extend backward ashort distance in the rear of the casting, as shown.

. The springs f receive the force of the concussion when the cars cometogether, and allow the bumper to give in opposite directions. The underside of both bumpers is open. The draw-bar D is suspended between thetimbers C C of the trucks upon a crank-shaft, g, which bears in therearward extension of the opposite arms of the bumper, the point ot'suspension thus provided being between the middle and rear end of thedraw-bar, so that the forward end will project through the bumper B andto the required distance in front of it. A round head, t', is formed onthis projecting extremity of the draw-bar with which the opposite orfemale bumper `engages when the cars come together. Thus the pull of thecars will come upon the springs f, against which the armsV of thecasting are drawn. A weight, j, is secured upon the rear end of thedraw-bar, which serves to overbalance the opposite or engaging end andkeep it raised. The opposite or female bumper B has a semicircular aringmouth with inclined sides, the lower middle portion o of which is cutaway so as to form a slot through which the draw-bar will pass when thehead is engaged on the inside of the bumper. Now, when the cars cometogether the head t' of the draw-bar will strike the flaring mouth ofthe bumper B and be guided by the inclined sides of the mouth downwarduntil it passes below the lower edge of the mouth, when, the weight jwill cause it to rise in the openin g back of the circular mouth so asto bring the draw-bar into the slot or opening o. A circular cavity orsocket, s, on the opposite or inside face of the bumper, then receivesthe head i, and in which it re mains until uncoupled. A crank-shaft, t,passes below the rear end of the draw-bar D, preferably in the rear ofthe weight j. This shaft is operated by lever a from the outside or topof the car, and when it is desired to disconnect the cars this lever isturned or lifted so as to cause the crank to lift the rear end of thedraw-bar. This lifting of the rear end of the draw-bar causes it rst toswing forward on its supporting crank-shaft, g, so as to release thehead or hook t' from its socket or link, and then the subsequent liftingof the rear end lowers the head t so that the bumper B can move offclear of the coupling. Y'

In some instances I shall employ a hook on the engaging end of thedraw-bar, which Will engage with a link or partial link on the op positebumper instead of the head and socket arrangement, and in either ease Ishall usually employ an angular guide-bar or inclined piece of metal infront of the head or hook, Whichever is used for directing it downward,in case it might be elevated too high to strike inside of the flaringmouth.

In cases of accident upon the road, such as the jumping oil the track byone of the cars, the unusual motion or lift of the car as it leaves thetrack will disconnect it from the remainder of the train, and in thisWay much damage Will be prevented.

By this means I provide an exceedingly simple self-actingcar-co11pling,which is also a safety-coupling. It is cheaplyconstructed, not liable to get out of order, and is easily handled.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s v 1. The bumper B With its suspended drawbar D,having` the en gaging-head z' and weight j, in combination With thebumper B with its semicircular slotted mouth having inclined slides andslot o, the reverse side of which lL. si

